New Build - 1978 Cherokee Chief!

So, I sold my CJ5, and have replaced it with a 1978 Cherokee Chief, with the AMC 360, a TH400 Auto and Quadratrac. So, to start with, things i need to do before i can really drive it...
1. Power Steering Hoses (Big Leak)
2. Timing, Ignition, Possibly Valvetrain....
3. Re-Wire front end - no front turn signals

Here are some pics - Thus far i have ripped out the carpet in the front, and tried to re-time the engine, but it has a bad miss - so i am going to troubleshoot that tonite, do plugs, check ignition and then pull valve covers to set valve lash and look for possible problems....



AMC 360!

 

Love those FSJ's! Probably old news to you, but check out this thread.....lots of reading but worth it!

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=89280&highlight=chief

 

That's a good looking Cherokee.

Interesting - tan column with a black interior?

Red valve covers? The 1972 California V8s were red, but I thought all other AMCs were either a metallic blue (though 74-ish) or a solid turquoise.

I had lots of trouble with turn signals on my J-10 until I took everything apart, cleaned all the contacts, restored the grounds, then they started working. Don't know specifically what I did, but I would certainly check the grounds and the plug connectors first. Get some spray-on contact cleaner from Radio Shack for the connectors.

 

I think that the Column was replaced at one point.... and the paint on the valve covers is fairly fresh...there seems to be alot of "added" items - at least in the wiring, so it wouldnt surprise me if someone dropped a different engine in.... More pics and progress to come!

 

" That Cherokee must be delivered to berettajeep "





Always wanted one. Good luck with the build.

 

Ok - Update for this evening. Today, i tore out the carpet in the cargo area - a little bit of rust, but not terrible.

Brought the engine to TDC and re-set timing - engine would run but had a terrible miss. Went and bought plug wires and plugs - still missing bad. Being that I (the idiot) replaced the wires 1 at a time, i replaced them in the same order they were. Got to thinking that something really bad might be wrong.... then i opened the Haynes (FSM on the way) realized that the plug wires were in the wrong place....actually, every wire was wrong....i put them in the right order, and it still wouldnt fire, but it tried. Pulled the Dizzy and reset it to TDC, fired right up, ran smooth with no miss, now it just smokes badley. I think that its burning a bunch of oil right now, not sure if it is due to being 180 out or if it really needs rings. Will be doing an oil change tomorrow and letting it run some more.

 

Its always fun tinkering with a new toy. Glad u got it running smooth. Look forward to hearing why it smokes sooo much

 

are you done with the frame off resto yet?

 

Before I got into CJs I had a 77 Chero Chief with a 401...that thing was awsome always say I will buy another eventually AMC motors can be a pain sometimes but run like a scalded dog when running keep it up good work!
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Great buy! I saw that one too, and it was tempting. I had a '75 Chief for about 15 years. Should have kept it. Mine had the small t-handle just right of the steering column. As I recall, it engaged the low-range. It would engage okay, but would not disengage. Seemed that the cable would bind. Had to crawl underneath and push the lever by hand to disengage. Have fun with that good old Chief.

 

Ok, did some more work today - traced wires from the column and found the bad connections for the front turn signals - all fixed. Took it down and got the VIN inspection done, then registered and insured! All road legal now.

Yanked about 100ft of extra wire out today, and changed the oil/filter. Added "Restore"...I have put this in most of my vehicles over the years, and it has helped - by no means am i a believer in some "snake oil cure" for your engine woes, but after a short drive today (after changing the oil) the engine stopped smoking.... Engine is running great now, but sounds terrible due to the clutch on the AC Compressor (york compresser) being shot, i need to get a shorter belt and simply remove/bypass the AC compresser. Thats all for now folks!

 

Maybe the "restore" freed up stuck rings?

 

Kinda what i was thinking. I also did the "Sea foam" treatment to the fuel system, so who knows, but its running pretty good now... i am very happy

I think i am going to buy a carpet kit in a couple weeks...but was also debating on just getting rubber flooring...

 

So, after i posted last night i worked some more on the jeep. The Neighbor has a 78 chevy project truck, that is non-running, he was tearing it apart to do a rebuild and asked if i wanted anything from it. He had a grant steering wheel, which i snagged for a 5 spot, as well as the rubber floor mat (that fits like it was meant to be in the jeep - but it's tan). So, i installed the grant steering wheel (with a chevy horn button) and the tan floor mat.



It doesnt look great, but its a project right!?!

 

I like it.

 

Got alot done this weekend,Saturday - Washed the jeep and then i re-painted all of the black on the jeep except for the small sections where it says "Cherokee Chief", thats gonna be a little more tough. Installed a Stereo (Pioneer Deck, Sony 5-1/2 in the door and Pioneer 6X9's in boxes in the back). Also painted the column. On Sunday i pulled the Carb off and rebuilt it. Got all the adjustments corrected and had to adjust the timing on the engine some more - engine runs great now .

Pulled the interior portion of the AC unit out - next i am going to need to pull the York Compressor out and rebuild the clutch on it. I think i am going to use it for an OBA system eventually. Last night i re-drilled and tapped the holes in the Wheels to mount the rear "hub" covers - as one was completely stripped (drivers side). Anywho - i know that everyone likes pics so here you go!











Next up - i need to buy some PL Adhesive and pull all the stainless strips of the roof, and clean them up and re-attach. They are attached with just a single screw in each end and when you go over any bumps they make a heck of a racket lol.

 

looks great..but cover up the bowtie

 

It's perfect.

 

seat question: replace, or re-foam and recover w/ new material?